RU2851039C1 - Computer control using fine motor skills in cases of impaired hand motor skills - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: computer control.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a modular computer control system. A modular computer control system using fine motor skills of the body in case of upper limb motor impairment comprises: a group of input modules, each of which contains at least one customisable user input reception unit, a built-in electronic control board with a microprocessor, one or more USB type C connectors and one or more QCIUM interfaces; wherein said module is designed to be capable of: connecting to a computer via a USB type C connector, electrical contact connection via QCIUM directly or via one or more wires with QCIUM connectors at the ends to another input module to form said group of input modules; wherein the group of input modules includes at least two input modules from one or more of a hub module, a keyboard button module, a joystick module, a pedal button module, a computer mouse module, an encoder wheel module, which are connected to each other via the QCIUM directly or via a wire with QCIUM connectors.

EFFECT: increased convenience and simplified configuration of a modular computer control system due to the electrical contact connection of quick-connect interfaces using magnets (QCIUM).

5 cl, 29 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES

This technical solution relates to the field of computer input devices, in particular to a modular system for controlling a computer using fine motor skills of the body in case of impaired motor skills of the upper limbs.

LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY

The prior art provides various input devices for computer devices that are used as a supplement to or instead of the commonly used computer keyboard and pointing devices such as a mouse, joystick, control console, and others.

For example, the information source US 2021/0034168 A1, published on 04.02.2021, is known, which discloses a device for delivering alternative user input between an alternative input device and an output device, wherein the output device is configured to receive input from a conventional input device, and the output device is not configured to receive input from the alternative input device, wherein the device includes an input conversion processor that receives alternative user input from the alternative input device, a processing pipeline that converts the alternative user input into conventional user input of the type that is typically received by the output device from a conventional input device, and an output port that transmits the conventional user input.

Furthermore, prior art discloses WO 2018/236756 A1, published December 27, 2018, which discloses a modular input device that can be supported and operated by a user's hands, providing independent hand-specific modules. The modules may include a touchscreen input device that can be used to provide data input to a computing device. The module configuration may include a portion for interacting with the palm and a control surface extending therefrom. The palm surface may be coordinated with a fastener for consistent interaction with the user's palm at its proximal portion, so that the metacarpophalangeal joints of the user's fingers can maintain a full range of motion, thereby facilitating improved text input using the touchscreen input device. The hand-specific modules may be customizable and/or adjustable in several ways to facilitate the performance of different users with different hand sizes when performing various computing tasks.

Finally, prior art discloses information source RU 2551796 C1, published May 27, 2015, which discloses a data input device that is implemented as a configurable system of attachable modules, formed by a housing serving as a base module and individual functional modules attached to it via electrical and mechanical interfaces. The housing, equipped with a communication interface with an electronic device, includes a front portion with a keyboard segment and a rear portion with a hand support surface, which form a ledge on which a set of keys is located, and at least one key or pointing device is located on at least one surface of the rear portion's side. The base module is provided with pairs of electrical and mechanical interfaces on the sides of the rear part, on the upper surface, the front and sides of the front part of the base module and a palm support block on the rear side of the base module with the possibility of detaching it, the keyboard segment on the front part of the base module is a key module attached to the upper surface of the front side using electrical and mechanical interfaces.

A common drawback of prior art solutions is the limited usability of computer input devices for users with upper limb motor impairments (ULMI), as the number of possible simultaneous input values depends on the number of healthy fingers. With ULMI, the number of possible simultaneous keystrokes is reduced to two, which is insufficient to utilize the computer's full functionality. Furthermore, prior art solutions are complex and difficult for users with ULMI to reconfigure, as they are connected via mechanical connectors that require the alignment of the connecting parts and the application of sufficient force to engage and establish contact.

Thus, the solutions known in the prior art for violation of the IVC do not provide the necessary control of the computer using fine motor skills of the body, and also do not allow for quick and easy reconfiguration of the computer input device for various specific tasks.

The proposed solution differs from the prior art solutions in that it provides a modular computer control system containing a group of input modules with configurable user input receiving units that are connected to each other via an electrical contact connection of quick magnetic connection interfaces (QCIMI).

ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

The technical challenge addressed by the proposed technical solution is the creation of a modular computer control system using fine motor skills of the body in the case of upper limb motor impairments, which will ensure effective computer control in the case of upper limb motor impairments.

The technical result achieved by solving the above technical problem is an increase in convenience and simplification of the configuration of a modular computer control system due to the electrical contact connection of the quick connection interfaces on magnets (QCISM).

According to one embodiment of the invention, a modular system for controlling a computer using fine motor skills of the body in case of a motor disorder of the upper limbs is proposed, comprising a group of input modules, each of which comprises at least one configurable user input receiving unit, a built-in electronic control board with a microprocessor, one or more USB type C connectors and one or more quick magnetic connection interfaces (QMI); wherein said module is configured to: connect to a computer via a USB type C connector; electrical contact connection via the QMI directly or via one or more wires with QMI connectors at the ends with another input module to form said group of input modules; wherein the group of input modules includes at least two input modules from one or more of a hub module, a keyboard button module, a joystick module, a pedal-button module, a computer mouse module, a wheel-encoder module, which are connected to each other by a plane through an UPSNM directly or through a wire with UPSNM connectors, and the said group of input modules includes one input module from the hub module, the joystick module and the computer mouse module, and one of the modules of the group is connected to the computer through a USB type C connector; receiving user input by means of a configured user input receiving unit; converting the user input into an input signal by means of a microprocessor; and transmitting the input signal to the computer through the connected USB type C interface or through the UPSNM connection in the group of input modules for conversion by specialized software into a control command.

In a particular embodiment of the proposed system, the group of input modules contains a hub module, four keyboard button modules with an encoder wheel module, a joystick module with an encoder wheel module, four pedal-button modules, and a computer mouse module.

In a particular embodiment of the proposed system, each configurable user input receiving block is pre-configured to perform a specified function.

In a particular embodiment of the proposed system, each configurable user input receiving unit is configured to perform a specified function using specialized software after connecting to a computer.

In a particular embodiment of the proposed system, the group of input modules further comprises a wireless connection module containing an embedded microprocessor, one or more USB type C connectors and one or more quick magnetic connection interfaces (QMI), a Bluetooth wireless communication unit and a battery; wherein the wireless connection module is configured to connect the group of input modules to the computer via a wireless connection.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be further described in accordance with the accompanying drawings, which are provided to illustrate the invention and in no way limit its scope. The following drawings are attached to the application:

Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary modular fine motor control system for a computer in an upper limb motor disorder according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a general perspective view of a concentrator module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 illustrates a top view of a concentrator module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 illustrates a front view of a hub module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 illustrates a general perspective view of a keyboard button module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 illustrates a top view of a keyboard button module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 illustrates a front view of a keyboard button module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the internal structure of a keyboard button module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 illustrates a general perspective view of a joystick module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 10 illustrates a top view of a joystick module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 11 illustrates a front view of a joystick module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 12 illustrates a perspective view of the internal structure of a joystick module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 13 illustrates a general perspective view of a pedal-button module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 14 illustrates a top view of a pedal-button module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 15 illustrates a front view of a pedal-button module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 16 illustrates a perspective view of the internal structure of a pedal-button module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 17 illustrates a general perspective view of a computer mouse module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 18 illustrates a top view of a computer mouse module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 19 illustrates a front view of a computer mouse module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 20 illustrates a general perspective view of an encoder wheel module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 21 illustrates a top view of an encoder wheel module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 22 illustrates a front view of an encoder wheel module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 23 illustrates a perspective view of the internal structure of an encoder wheel module with an encoder wheel according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 24 illustrates a perspective view of the internal structure of an encoder wheel module without an encoder wheel according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 25 illustrates a general perspective view of a wireless connection module from one angle according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 26 illustrates a general perspective view of a wireless connection module from another angle according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 27 illustrates a front view of a wireless connection module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 28 illustrates a top perspective view of the internal structure of a wireless connection module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 29 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the internal structure of a wireless connection module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of the invention includes numerous implementation details intended to provide a clear understanding of the present invention. However, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate how the present invention may be utilized with or without these implementation details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the features of the present invention.

Furthermore, it will be clear from the foregoing description that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described. Numerous possible modifications, changes, variations, and substitutions, while preserving the spirit and form of the present invention, will be obvious to those skilled in the art and are encompassed by the scope of the claims.

The proposed solution is a modular system for computer control using fine motor skills of the body in cases of upper limb motor impairment.

The modular control system according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the control system or the system) generally includes a group of input modules, each of which contains at least one configurable user input receiving unit, an electronic control board with a microprocessor, one or more USB type C connectors and one or more quick magnetic connection interfaces (QMI), as shown in Fig. 8, 12, 16, 23, 24. The said USB connectors, QMI and input unit are connected to the electronic control board by soldering.

In a particular embodiment, the housing and user input receiving unit of each input module are made of plastic. However, in the present invention, the material is not limited to plastic.

Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary modular system for controlling a computer using fine motor skills of the body in case of a motor disorder of the upper limbs according to one embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a hub module 1, four keyboard button modules 2, two encoder wheel modules 6, four pedal-button modules 4, a joystick module 3, and a computer mouse module 5. The hub module 1 is connected to the personal computer 10 via a USB cable 9. The USB cable 9 is connected to the hub module 1 via a USB type C connector, and to the personal computer 10 via any USB family connector. The encoder wheel module 6 and the three keyboard button modules 2 are connected to each other via quick magnetic connection interfaces (QMI) and form a group of input modules, which is connected to the hub module 1 via a wire 8 with QMI connectors. Another encoder wheel module 6, joystick module 3, keyboard button module 2, and wireless connection module 7 are connected to each other via quick magnetic connection interfaces (QMI) and form another group of input modules, which is connected to the personal computer 10 via a wireless connection established by the wireless connection module 7. Four pedal-button modules 4 are connected to each other and to another wireless connection module 7 via wires 8 with QMI connectors and form yet another group of input modules, which is connected to the personal computer 10 via a wireless connection established by the wireless connection module 7.

In a preferred embodiment, the group of input modules includes at least two input modules from one or more of the hub module 1, the keyboard button module 2, the joystick module 3, the pedal-button module 4, the computer mouse module 5, and the wheel-encoder module 6, which are connected to each other via a UBI directly or via a wire with UBI connectors. In a particular embodiment, the group of input modules includes one input module from the hub module 1, the joystick module 3, and the computer mouse module 5, and one of the modules in the group is connected to the computer via a USB type C connector.

In another particular embodiment, the group of input modules comprises a hub module 1, four keyboard button modules 2 with an encoder wheel module 6, a joystick module 3 with an encoder wheel module 6, four pedal-button modules 4 and a computer mouse module 5.

Each input module included in the input module group is configured to receive user input by means of a configured user input receiving unit; to convert the user input into an input signal by means of a microprocessor of the electronic control board; and to transmit the input signal to the computer 10 via a connected USB type C interface or via an UPSNM connection in the input module group for conversion by specialized software executed on the computer 10 into a control command.

Each configurable user input block of each input module is pre-configured to perform a specific function. A user input block can be configured to perform the function of a single button on a standard keyboard.

Each configurable user input receiving unit is configured to perform a specified function using specialized software after connecting to a computer via a USB cable 9.

Module 1 of the hub (also known as the docking station module), shown in Fig. 2-4, includes input/output interfaces, two buttons and a ring encoder (each individually included in the corresponding user input receiving unit), which is a housing in the form of a flat square base and an inclined square surface, in the lower part of which an electronic control board with a microprocessor, 4 USB type C connection interfaces and 8 quick magnetic connection interfaces (QCIMI) of the “output” type are located, and in the inclined upper part there is a round display screen, around which there is a ring encoder for entering data by rotating the ring, and two buttons in the lower corners.

All connection interfaces are simultaneously input and output interfaces, connected to an internal electronic control board with a microprocessor and allowing connection of other system elements for ease of use, charging of internal batteries and for the ability to connect parts of the system via a quick magnetic connection interface.

The body is detachable and consists of a main body and a bottom cover. The bottom cover has a non-slip silicone or rubber coating.

In a preferred embodiment, the flat square base of module 1 has the following overall dimensions: 100 mm in width and 100 mm in length, with the inclined surface length being 100 mm and the ring encoder diameter being 75 mm. However, in other embodiments, each of these dimensions may be adjusted upward or downward to ensure comfortable and effective use of module 1 by a user with fine motor skills who has impaired upper limb motor function.

The USB Type-C interface for the proposed system is an alternative connection interface to the UPSNM. One of the USB Type-C interfaces on Module 1 is used to connect it to the computer, while the others can be used to connect input modules. Module 1 of the hub serves as a docking station (if the computer has few USB Type-C inputs, a built-in expander is provided). The remaining modules can be connected to Module 1 via the UPSNM cables.

The 2-button module of the keyboard, shown in Fig. 5-8, is a housing in the form of a curved parallelepiped, in which an electronic control board with a microprocessor, a USB type C connection interface and two UPSNM interfaces are located, and in the upper part of the housing there is a mechanical button, which is part of the user input receiving unit, covering almost the entire area of the upper surface of the housing (see Fig. 5-7).

In this case, when looking at module 2 from the user side, the UPSNM are located on the right and left, and the type C interface is on the side opposite the user in the center.

In the preferred embodiment, module 2 has the following overall dimensions: width 51 mm, length 63 mm, height 27 mm, with the overall dimensions of the pressable mechanical button being 49 x 43 mm. However, in other embodiments, each of these dimensions may be adjusted to accommodate greater or lesser dimensions to ensure convenient and effective use of module 2 by a user with fine motor skills impaired in the upper limbs.

The joystick module 3 shown in Fig. 9-12 consists of a sliding joystick and two buttons (separately included in the corresponding block for receiving user input), which is a housing in the form of a curved parallelepiped with a round extension in the center with a through hole coaxial with it for almost the entire diameter of the extension, in which are located (Fig. 12) an electronic control board with a microprocessor, a connection interface of the USB type-C type, two UPSNM, three buttons and positioning sensors (magnetic field sensors or resistive sensors).

When viewing module 3 from the user's perspective, the UPSNM are located on the right and left, and the USB Type-C interface is on the side opposite the user, centered on the circular extension. Two buttons are located on the right and left sides of the top housing. In the center of the housing, in a circular opening on the top surface, is a disc with rounded edges. This disc serves as the joystick's "head." Its horizontal movement sends a signal to the electronic control board containing the microprocessor. The signal is received by positioning sensors in the main housing. A mechanical return mechanism connects the main housing to the disc, which, when no force is applied, positions the disc in the center of the opening in the main housing. Inside the disc is a button that responds to vertical force applied to the disc, as well as a magnet or conductive element that allows the disc's position to be determined using sensors located in the housing.

The body is detachable and consists of a main body and a bottom cover. The bottom cover has a non-slip silicone or rubber coating.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the buttons of module 3 has the following overall dimensions: width 51 mm, length 63 mm, height 27 mm, and the movable disk has a diameter of 73 mm and a height of 27 mm. However, in other embodiments, each of these dimensions may be adjusted upward or downward to ensure convenient and effective use of module 3 by a user with fine motor skills who has impaired upper limb motor function.

The pedal-button module 4, shown in Figs. 13-16, consists of a housing divided into two halves mounted on a common axis located close to one of the housing's side faces and connected by a release spring that prevents the halves from coming together. The lower portion of the housing (Fig. 16) contains an electronic control board with a microprocessor, a USB type-C connection interface, two UPSNMs, and a button included in the user input receiving unit, which switches to the closed position when force is applied to the upper portion of the housing and the upper and lower halves are closed.

When looking at the module from the user side, the UPSNM are located on the right and left, and the USB type C interface is on the side opposite the user in the center.

The bottom of the case has an anti-slip silicone or rubber coating.

In the preferred embodiment, module 4 has the following overall dimensions: width 60 mm, length 113 mm, and a tilt angle of approximately 10 degrees when depressed. However, in other embodiments, each of these dimensions may be adjusted upward or downward to ensure comfortable and effective use of module 4 for users with upper limb motor impairments.

The computer mouse module 5 shown in Fig. 17-19 is a housing with an electronic control board with a microprocessor, a USB type-C connection interface, a battery, a wireless signal transmitter, an optical or laser motion sensor located on the bottom surface, and three buttons, each of which is part of a corresponding user input receiving unit.

When viewing module 5 from the user's perspective, two buttons are located on the bottom surface, on the right and left sides of the module's rear section. Pressure can be applied to both buttons individually or together, depending on the point of application. The third button is located on the side surface. The top of the housing is shaped like a semi-tube with rounded edges.

The overall dimensions of module 5 ensure its convenient and effective use with the help of fine motor skills of the body in case of impaired motor skills of the upper limbs of the user

The encoder wheel module 6 shown in Fig. 20-24 is a housing in the form of a curved parallelepiped, in which an electronic control board with a microprocessor, a USB type C connection interface and two UPSNM interfaces are located, and in the upper part of the housing there is a rectangular cutout for a wheel rotating around a horizontal axis, and a button located under the spring-loaded axis of the wheel and included in the user input receiving unit, so that when a vertical force is applied to the wheel, the button closes.

In this case, when looking at module 6 from the user's side, the UPSNM are located on the right and left, the USB type C interface is on the side opposite the user in the center, and the axis of rotation of the encoder wheel goes from right to left.

The wheel, the rotation of which is transmitted to the encoder located in the housing, is a separate part and is fixed in the housing on an axis, which, in turn, is fixed on carriages that move along the vertical axis and are spring-loaded relative to the bottom of the housing for compression.

The body is detachable and consists of a main body and a bottom cover. The bottom cover has a non-slip silicone or rubber coating.

In a preferred embodiment, module 6 has the following overall dimensions: width 51 mm, length 63 mm, and the rotating cylinder width 30 mm, with a diameter of 35 mm. However, in other embodiments, each of these dimensions may be adjusted upward or downward to ensure convenient and effective use of module 6 using fine motor skills in the user's upper limbs.

Wireless connection module 7, shown in Figs. 25-29, is a detachable housing consisting of a lid and a parallelepiped-shaped main body. The housing contains an integrated electronic control board with a microprocessor, a battery, a wireless transmitter and receiver, a charge indicator located on the side surface, a USB Type-C connection interface, and a UPS. Wireless connection module 7 uses its integrated battery to power the input modules connected to it.

In a particular embodiment, module 7 is a transmitter and receiver of a Bluetooth signal (a Bluetooth wireless communication unit) and allows any group of modules connected via an IBPNM or IBPNM wires to be connected to a computer via Bluetooth directly, without wires.

All modules of the system can communicate with each other directly via the UPSNM or via wires 8 with UPSNM connectors at the ends to form a group of input modules, or with a computer 10 via a USB cable 9 with a type-C interface.

The power supply for the group of modules is provided by a personal computer 10, to which one of the modules of the input module group is connected via a USB cable 9.

The UPSNM directly or through one or more wires with UPSNM connectors at the ends forms an electrical contact connection.

The UPSNM includes paired connectors (one per module or per end of the UPSNM cable) containing an equal number of independent contacts and at least one magnetic element with a corresponding magnetic field direction that differs on the two connectors of the pair, thereby enabling their connection. In a specific embodiment, the contacts of one of the connectors of the pair are spring-loaded pins to ensure better connection with the contacts of the paired connector.

In the preferred embodiment, the IBPNM connector has the following dimensions: width 15 mm, length 32 mm, height 12 mm. However, in other embodiments, each of these dimensions may be increased or decreased by up to 5 mm.

The IBPNM connector and its components are made with roundings and chamfers.

The length of the connecting wire 8 with the UPSNM connectors at the ends is 15 cm, 30 cm, 50 cm, 1 m and 2 m. Two or more wires 8 can be connected to each other for extension and form a chain.

The UPSNM connectors allow for quick and convenient daisy-chaining of modules. This saves space and computer connection interfaces, and uses fewer wires (when connecting modules directly via the UPSNM (without wires). The UPSNM connector itself is also convenient because it is magnetic, and its housing allows for connection by simply pressing it to the table and bringing it close to the system module. This is much more difficult with USB Type-C cables or other connectors (such as pin connectors). UPSNM cables are much more convenient for those with limited hand dexterity.

It should be noted that the above dimensions of the input modules and their components are approximate only and do not impose any restrictions on possible implementation options. The dimensions were chosen to ensure convenient and effective use of the input modules using fine motor skills for users with upper limb motor impairments.

The proposed modular computer control system is located near a personal computer (PC) 10 or another computer 10 (e.g., a laptop, desktop computer, tablet computer, all-in-one computer, etc.). The system modules are positioned according to their functionality: the pedals are located near the user's feet, e.g., under a table, while the remaining modules are located near the hands, e.g., on a table. Module 1 of the hub (docking station) connects to the PC via a cable with a USB type-C connection interface, with one end connected to the PC's type-C interface and the other to any of the hub's USB type-C interfaces. Module 5 of the computer mouse connects to the PC/computer 10 wirelessly, via a wireless signal receiver/transmitter connected to the PC's USB interface. The remaining modules are connected to each other in groups via a wireless communication module (WCM) or cables with a WCM. The number of modules in a group or their type are not limited in any way. Each module group is connected to module 1 of the hub via USB Type-C cable 9 or UPSNM cable 8. This cable can be connected to any connection interface of the hub or any interface of the module group without affecting the system's functionality. A module group can be connected directly to a PC via USB Type-C cable 9, with one end connected to the USB Type-C interface on the PC and the other to any of the USB Type-C interfaces of the modules in the group. Any input module group can connect to the computer through any of its input modules via USB Type-C connector 9.

When any action is performed that results in signal registration (such as pressing any system button, rotating any encoder wheel or encoder ring, or moving a joystick or mouse), the signal is registered by the corresponding module via the user input receiving unit. It is processed by the electronic control board with a microprocessor integrated into the module that registered the signal (which, in specific embodiments, may be equipped with a microcontroller, a programmable integrated circuit, etc.), and sent as a signal data packet to all modules in the group via the UPSNM. Upon reaching the module directly connected to module 1 of the hub or PC 10, the signal travels to module 1 of the hub and from there to PC 10 (or directly to the PC). The PC receives the signal, its internal specialized software processes it, and performs an action/sends a command to other PC systems.

The algorithm for receiving, processing, and transmitting data provides the ability to receive and send signals from all modules and devices connected to the system for sending information simultaneously; there are no restrictions on the number of possible simultaneous signals from the point of view of the system's internal operating algorithms.

The proposed system is an independent input device and can completely replace any separate input device and even a combination of several (for example, mouse + keyboard + sound bar, etc.).

The proposed system provides the ability to fully control a computer using fine motor skills of the body in case of impaired motor skills.

Full control in this context means the ability to perform the basic operations required to work with the vast majority of programs.

Full control of a computer within the framework of the proposed invention implies the effective execution of the following five operations:

VTS - Text and symbol input

PS - Scrolling through lists

UK - Cursor Control

ISK - Using special commands that require 3 or more simultaneous key presses

OOS - Sending 6 or more simultaneous signals for efficient use of various software.

The proposed modular system provides computer control using fine motor skills of the body in cases of upper limb motor impairments by means of data input, which is read and transmitted to the computer by input modules.

The present invention also relates to data input devices and assistive technologies and can be applied in various fields of technology for data input and computer control.

The proposed system ensures the most efficient computer control for those with upper limb motor impairments (ULMI). The number of possible simultaneous input values depends on the number of healthy fingers. In cases of ULMI, the number of possible simultaneous keystrokes is reduced to two, which, thanks to the proposed system, is sufficient for using the computer's full functionality.

The proposed invention is much faster than known and traditional input devices for IVC violations, has higher accuracy, and is also intuitive.

The ability to customize user input blocks and create various combinations of input module groups improves work efficiency: input speed increases, the use of special keys and key combinations is facilitated or made possible, and information entry accuracy is enhanced. Consequently, computer control efficiency is significantly improved during IPC violations.

Full computer control is provided even when the IPC is violated. The proposed system enables simultaneous pressing of three or more keys, as well as simultaneous cursor control and character input.

Significantly increases the efficiency of computer use in cases of IPC violations. The proposed system improves the speed and accuracy of input, cursor positioning, and special commands.

The maximum number of signals (symbols, commands, etc.) that a user can simultaneously send to a computer with high accuracy is increased due to the various possible configurations of input modules.

It's possible to achieve data input device mobility without losing its functionality. This is achieved by allowing the system to function as a single unit or as separate, independent devices with limited functionality and increased mobility.

The above advantages are achieved due to the fact that the system, which is an input device, is divided into modules, contains a group of data input tools, an interface for quickly connecting modules to each other and a microprocessor of the electronic control board, which allows changing and storing the signal supplied by the system, while the modules have different operating modes and can be used in various combinations to provide computer control.

In addition, the prior art solutions are complex and difficult for the user to reconfigure with the MVC, since they are connected via mechanical connectors that require the alignment of the parts to be connected and the application of the required force to engage and form contact.

Thus, the created modular computer control system using fine motor skills of the body in case of impaired motor skills of the upper limbs ensures effective control of the computer in case of impaired motor skills of the user's upper limbs, allows for quick and easy reconfiguration of the computer input device for various specific tasks, is simple and easy for the user to reconfigure with the MVC, since the connection of the modules occurs not through mechanical connectors, which require the alignment of the connecting parts and the application of the necessary force for engagement and formation of contact, but through the electrical contact connection of the quick connection interfaces on magnets (QCIM), which, thanks to magnets, ensure the necessary alignment of the connecting parts, their fixation and the formation of an electrical contact connection for the reception and transmission of data characterizing the input signals.

In these application materials, a preferred disclosure of the implementation of the claimed technical solution was presented, which should not be used as limiting other, particular embodiments of its implementation that do not go beyond the scope of the requested scope of legal protection and are obvious to specialists in the relevant field of technology.

Claims (12)

1. A modular system for computer control using fine motor skills of the body in case of motor impairment of the upper limbs, containing: - a group of input modules, each of which contains at least one configurable user input receiving unit, a built-in electronic control board with a microprocessor, one or more USB type C connectors and one or more quick magnetic connection interfaces (QCI); and the said module is designed with the ability to: - connection to a computer via USB type C connector; - an electrical contact connection through the UPSNM directly or through one or more wires with the UPSNM connectors at the ends with another input module to form the said group of input modules; wherein the group of input modules includes at least two input modules from one or more of a hub module, a keyboard button module, a joystick module, a pedal-button module, a computer mouse module, a wheel-encoder module, which are connected to each other through the UPSNM directly or through a wire with the UPSNM connectors, and the said group of input modules includes one input module from the hub module, the joystick module and the computer mouse module, and one of the modules of the group is connected to the computer via a USB type C connector; - receiving user input through a configured user input receiving block; - converting, by means of a microprocessor, user input into an input signal; and - transmitting an input signal to a computer via a connected USB type C interface or via an UPS connection in a group of input modules for conversion into a control command by specialized software. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the group of input modules comprises a hub module, four keyboard button modules with an encoder wheel module, a joystick module with an encoder wheel module, four pedal-button modules and a computer mouse module. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein each configurable user input receiving unit is pre-configured to perform a specified function. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein each configurable user input receiving unit is configured to perform a specified function via specialized software after being connected to a computer. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the group of input modules further comprises a wireless connection module comprising an embedded microprocessor, one or more USB type C connectors and one or more quick magnetic connection interfaces (QMI), a Bluetooth wireless communication unit and a battery, wherein the wireless connection module is configured to connect the group of input modules to the computer via a wireless connection.